What to Do if You Have Been Assaulted
Caring for yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally after a sexual assault is important. It can often be overwhelming to process what has happened and sometimes even hard to recognize an assault. Sexual violence is defined as physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person’s will or where a person is incapable of giving consent. Consent is defined as knowing and voluntary assent to engage in certain conduct. Also, if one is too intoxicated to drive, one is too intoxicated to provide consent.
If you have been sexually assaulted, you have some choices:
If you would like to make a report and choose to undergo a physical examination, please contact OCUPD at 208-5001. From there, you will be connected with a SANE (sexual assault nurse examiner) and an advocate from the YWCA. If you choose to be examined:
- if possible, do not shower or change clothes as it could damage physical evidence
- do not wash any sheets, towels, or any other material that was involved in the assault
- do not discard any objects that could be used for evidence, such as condoms
You may choose to report the assault to university authorities, which would begin an investigative procedure.
- The University’s response to your report is separate from any criminal process.
- You can choose to pursue the criminal process, the Title IX process, or both.
- OCU’s Title IX Administrators can help you with safety planning, which may include changing your on-campus housing, academic assistance, and a no-contact order, which would prohibit communication between you and the accused.
You also may choose not to report the sexual assault. If you would like to talk with someone in a confidential setting, please contact University Counseling.
